Video: Toggling between Design and Data views

When you're building a database, you will frequently switch back and forth between the Design View where you build the structure of the table, form or report and it's data view, where you actually use it. Access gives you a variety of methods of moving back and forth between the two. When you double-click on an object, let's say a table in the Navigation pane, it defaults to opening in Data View, handy for working on your data immediately. If you need to switch to the Design View to work with the structure of that table, go up to the very first button on the Home Ribbon. You will see a button with an architect's triangle and a pencil on it.

In Access 2010 Power Shortcuts, Access expert Alicia Katz Pollock shares hundreds of tips and shortcuts to vastly increase efficiency and get the full power out of Access 2010. The course includes tips for working with the Ribbon and Quick Access toolbar, managing files, customizing and automating Access, rapid data entry and editing, working with tables, queries, forms, and reports, managing your database, and much more. Exercise files accompany the course.

Toggling between Design and Data views

When you're building a database, you will frequently switch back and forthbetween the Design View where you build the structure of the table, form orreport and it's data view, where you actually use it.Access gives you a variety of methods of moving back and forth between the two.When you double-click on an object, let's say a table in the Navigation pane, itdefaults to opening in Data View, handy for working on your data immediately.If you need to switch to the Design View to work with the structure of thattable, go up to the very first button on the Home Ribbon.You will see a button with an architect's triangle and a pencil on it.

Click on this button, right on the triangle and your view will switch to Design View.To go back to the datasheet, simply click that button again.You will notice that the button has a dropdown arrow underneath it.Click on that dropdown and you also have options to switch to a PivotTable or aPivotChart View, as well as Design View.These two options are available when you're working on a table.Let's open up the form to see how this works on a form.I want to scroll down to the Forms and I will choose my Product Split Form.I will double-click on it and it opens, and now the button in the corner givesme the option of going to the Layout View or back to the Datasheet View and if Iclick on the dropdown, I also have the option of going straight to Design View.

So as you can see, each of the different objects types, Tables, Forms, Queriesand Reports will all have two main views to toggle with the top half and a widervariety with the dropdown arrow.But that's just the first way to move between the two.Here are a few more.Look down in the lower right-hand corner of your window.There are little buttons down here to toggle between each of your views.If you don't see these buttons, right- click on the bar and put a check mark infront of View Shortcuts.If you right-click on an Objects tab, you can also change the view from thereand if you right-click on an object in the Navigation pane, you can also open updirectly into the view that you like.

I use that technique a lot.If you're working in the contextual ribbons, the ones that open when you are inDesign View or Layout View, the first tab will always have a toggle to go backand forth between your views.And when you're working on a form in Design View here is one more powerful option.See this little box in the upper left -hand corner between the horizontaland vertical ribbons.If I right-click on that, I also have View selectors there as well.Note however that that option only shows up in the Design View on Forms and Reports.

It doesn't work on Tables or Queries on in Datasheet or Layout Views.Knowing a variety of methods to toggle between your object views will definitelyspeed up your development time.

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Learn by watching, listening, and doing! Exercise files are the same files the author uses in the course, so you can download them and follow along. Exercise files are available with all Premium memberships.
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